A blog concerning fashion, travel, and the pursuit of some lofty dreams.

My Summer in Zion

“And now continue your journey. Assemble yourselves upon the land of Zion; and hold a meeting and rejoice together, and offer a sacrament unto the Most High.” D&C 62:4

On my first Sunday here in Missouri, I came to Single’s Branch alone, sat down, and counted 10 other members of the ward. That’s it. There was 11 people. We didn’t even have enough people to split into different classes for the 2nd and 3rd hours.

We are about 30 minutes from Jackson County, I thought for sure there would be more Mormons!

Within a few weeks of being there, I started going out with the Sister Missionaries and I met some amazing member missionaries. We attended the truly miraculous baptism of my wonderful friend Patrick. We visited everyone who hasn’t been coming to church and threw a huge barbecue to meet everyone. We played Frisbee nearly every day and I got pretty dang good. We hung out at church and at each other’s houses and a little bit at Buffalo Wild Wings (the cool kids call it B-Dubs). We learned more fully what being a church family meant, and it felt great.

In the first class of summer institute there were 4 attendees, including the teacher and his daughter. The last week I was there, there were 15 students on a week night at church, ready to learn, because we all had real relationships with each other

The Platte City branch was just absorbed into the Liberty Branch, and now has hundreds of members. Before the branches combined, the Platte City Branch was up by at least 20 members. But it wasn’t the numbers that excited us so much. It was the carpooling to activities, the feeling of inclusiveness, and the brand new buzz of conversation in between meetings as friends embraced and acquaintances were made.

So it wasn’t a huge thing, and there weren’t huge, mind blowing, earth shaking miracles, but I realized that Zion is a place but also a spirit of unity among people. As one of my new friends put it, “Be Zion today.” And in that tiny town, we were Zion!

I’ve grown a genuine love for the people here and a love for sharing my love for the gospel. And so now that you’ve read/skimmed through this post I would like to announce that I will be serving an 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I expect to find out where I am going sometime in mid-September and to leave sometime in January.

I am so excited that I have an opportunity to press pause on my life in order to more fully serve The Lord for a short time. It has taken me a while to officially make this decision, but I firmly believe it will change my life and give me an opportunity to help others in a new capacity. If you have any questions about it please comment or email!